Frank Maher (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Frank H. Maher is a former Australian footballer, and coach
in the Victorian Football League
.
He served in the army in World War I
from 1916 to 1919, and was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry for his actions in France on 19 May 1918.http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Frank%20Maher
He only began playing football when serving overseas with the AIF. On his return to Australia, he started playing football with two clubs, Shepparton and Lilydale.
Recruited from Lilydale Football Club, he played his first game for Essendon in 1921 at the advanced age of 25, playing against Carlton at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground
on 11 June 1921 (the Carlton team is at http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Round+6%2C+1921).
He went on to play 137 games with Essendon Football Club
from 1921 to 1928; and 118 of those games were played consecutively.
Only 5'6" (167.5 cm) tall, he was part of Essendon's famous "Mosquito Fleet"; he had superb reflexes, perfect timing, and wonderful ball skills.
He represented Victoria on nine occasions in 1921, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1926, 1927 (captain), and 1928 (captain).
He was captain-coach of Essendon in 1927; whilst his application to coach Essendon in 1928 was rejected, he captained Essendon in that year.
After leaving Essendon, he went on to coach at Oakleigh
in the VFA on two occasions, at Fitzroy, and at Carlton; and from 1958 and 1968 he was president of Essendon's past players and officials association.
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
He served in the army in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
from 1916 to 1919, and was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry for his actions in France on 19 May 1918.http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Frank%20Maher
He only began playing football when serving overseas with the AIF. On his return to Australia, he started playing football with two clubs, Shepparton and Lilydale.
Recruited from Lilydale Football Club, he played his first game for Essendon in 1921 at the advanced age of 25, playing against Carlton at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground
East Melbourne Cricket Ground
The East Melbourne Cricket Ground was a sports venue located at the corner of Wellington Parade and Jolimont Parade, in East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia...
on 11 June 1921 (the Carlton team is at http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Round+6%2C+1921).
He went on to play 137 games with Essendon Football Club
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
from 1921 to 1928; and 118 of those games were played consecutively.
Only 5'6" (167.5 cm) tall, he was part of Essendon's famous "Mosquito Fleet"; he had superb reflexes, perfect timing, and wonderful ball skills.
He represented Victoria on nine occasions in 1921, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1926, 1927 (captain), and 1928 (captain).
He was captain-coach of Essendon in 1927; whilst his application to coach Essendon in 1928 was rejected, he captained Essendon in that year.
After leaving Essendon, he went on to coach at Oakleigh
Oakleigh Football Club
Oakleigh Football Club, nicknamed the Devils, was an Australian rules football club from Oakleigh which played in the VFA from 1929 until 1994...
in the VFA on two occasions, at Fitzroy, and at Carlton; and from 1958 and 1968 he was president of Essendon's past players and officials association.
Career
- Lilydale Football Club and Shepparton Football Club: 1920
- Essendon Football Club: player, 1921–1928
- Essendon Football Club: Premiership Team, 1923 (first rover, kicking 2 goals), 1924 (forward flank, kicking four goals in the three matches)
- Brownlow MedalBrownlow MedalThe Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
: third place 1925 — 4 votes. - Essendon Football Club: captain-coach 1927 (18 games, 6 wins, 11 losses and 1 draw)
- Oakleigh Football ClubOakleigh Football ClubOakleigh Football Club, nicknamed the Devils, was an Australian rules football club from Oakleigh which played in the VFA from 1929 until 1994...
: captain-coach 1929-1931 (premierships 1930-1931) - Fitzroy Football ClubFitzroy Football ClubThe Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
: coach 1932-1933 - Oakleigh Football Club: coach 1934
- Carlton Football ClubCarlton Football ClubThe Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
: coach 1935-1936 (38 games, 26 wins, 11 losses and 1 draw).